For 22 years, American Blues Theater has presented It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! in the format of a live-staged faux 1940s radio production based on Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film, making it the city’s second-longest running holiday play (A Christmas Carol has been humbugging at the Goodman for more than 45). It’s fitting, then, that ABT chose this show to launch its beautiful new 137-seat proscenium theater in the far north West Ridge neighborhood, making Sunday’s opening performance even more festive than usual.
And festive it is. Musical director Michael Mahler acts as warm and witty host as he and the ensemble perform pre-show carols, even taking audience requests to perform made-up holiday songs in a suggested band’s style. Thus, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” was transformed on the spot by a guitar-thrashing Mahler into “Enter Santa” to hilarious effect.
After walking through the workings of the ON AIR and APPLAUSE signs, the actors gather around strategically placed vintage microphones to live-read ads for actual sponsors in old-time radio style, and then it’s time for a brisk run-through of the inspiring story of George Bailey and the guardian angel who shows him how much worse off his hometown of Bedford Falls and indeed the world would be if he’d never been born.
There’s no intermission, though the three acts are broken up by brief, entertaining commercial breaks. Sound effects, such as shattering glass, wind gusts and the bells that signify another angel getting its wings, are adeptly created live by foley artist J.G. Smith, and the actors all appear in appropriately period attire. A Christmas tree decorates the back of the deep stage and there are velvet-upholstered chairs for the performers to rest in when they’re not on mic.
Out of this convivial atmosphere, the story of a small-town boy whose big-city dreams are dashed by family obligations sneaks up to deliver an emotional payoff that feels surprisingly potent. Most of us have seen the Jimmy Stewart movie many times, yet the story rewards viewers once again in this live incarnation.
As George Bailey, Brandon Dahlquist sports a haircut suggesting awareness that he bears more than passing resemblance to a young Burt Lancaster. Here’s an all-American everyman worth rooting for, especially in his scenes with Audrey Billings as Mary, who falls in love with George as a girl, lassoes him for good when she turns 18, and then becomes his emotional rock, giving him the home and family that keep him going.
Manny Buckley (Joseph) and Joe Dempsey (Clarence) warmly handle the sequence in Heaven where the latter spirit learns all about the man he’s tasked to save from suicide in order to finally earn his angel wings after more than 200 years of trying. Dempsey shows nice range in tackling both the sweet and simple Clarence as well as the role of Mr. Potter, which he plays with evil glee.
Mahler (Announcer), Dara Cameron (Mary’s rival, Violet) and Ian Paul Custer (Harry) round out the capable cast as they scurry around the stage playing their principal and secondary roles with engaging good cheer and sometimes no more than a quick breath between character changes.
All the pre-show fun gives this production a vibe similar to the one the Music Box Theatre creates when it screens the original film and brings in an organist to lead the audience in carols. If I had to choose between them, it would be a tough call. Luckily, we can enjoy both. It’s a wonderful holiday season all around when it comes to entertainment in Chicago.
It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! runs through December 31 at American Blues Theater.
For a full roundup of reviews of this show, visit Theatre in Chicago.
Photo by Michael Brosilow
